By admin 
Both the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts enter Week 3 winless with little room for another setback. Houston has already dropped two home games, while Indianapolis has surrendered 74 points through two weeks. Sunday’s matchup gives both teams a chance to change the tone of their season, but another loss would leave one team at 0-3.
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C.J. Stroud threw for 353 yards against Cincinnati, but the Texans managed only six points and failed to score a touchdown. Their running game has been even worse, with David Montgomery and Woody Marks struggling to find room. Houston will need much more balance against an Indianapolis defense that has allowed 144 rushing yards per game through two weeks.
The Colts have problems on defense, which has allowed more than 500 yards in each of their first two games and has struggled to contain both the run and pass. Houston has enough talent to attack those weaknesses if the offensive line can create running lanes and Stroud gets consistent protection. Here are the key matchups and weak points Houston can exploit on Sunday.
The Colts’ Offense Could Give Houston’s Defense an Opening
Indy’s defense has not been consistently efficient, although it has produced points. They lost 33-30 to Kansas City in overtime after opening the season with another defeat. Quarterback Daniel Jones has shown flashes, but Houston’s defense can make him uncomfortable by forcing longer third downs and taking away easy throws.
The Texans cannot rely on their defense alone. Houston has yet to force a turnover this season after creating 29 takeaways in 2025. Will Anderson Jr. remains a major threat up front, but the Texans need more plays behind him. Pressure on Jones could become one of the biggest paths to controlling this game.
Houston’s running game has to finally show up with David Montgomery and Woody Marks averaging less than 3.0 yards per carry, and that has put too much pressure on Stroud. Against an Indianapolis defense that has allowed Derrick Henry to run for 144 yards and three touchdowns and later gave up 132 rushing yards to Kansas City, Houston should keep testing the front seven. Houston also holds a recent edge in the rivalry, having won three of the last four matchups against the Colts.
Alec Pierce’s Injury Adds Another Problem for Indianapolis
Wide receiver Alec Pierce’s placement on injured reserve removes one of the Colts’ primary vertical threats and leaves Indianapolis with fewer options around Jones. Veteran Darius Slayton has been added and could make his Colts debut after previously playing with Jones in New York.
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Houston will also be without Nico Collins, so neither is their offense at full strength. The difference could come down to which quarterback adjusts better without his top target. Stroud still threw for 353 yards last week, while Jones will need to find production elsewhere.
Houston has allowed big plays early this season, but the defense has also shown individual playmakers. Anderson recorded eight tackles, three tackles for loss and a sack against Cincinnati. If Houston can pressure Jones and force Indianapolis into obvious passing situations, it can compensate for its own offensive limitations.
Can the Colts’ Defense Actually Stop Houston’s Offense?
The Colts have allowed a total of 1,029 yards their first two games, while several defenders have posted poor PFF grades through two weeks. Jaylon Carlies has a 29.8 overall grade, Justin Walley sits at 42.1 and Akeem Davis-Gaither has a 48.6 mark. Those issues give Houston opportunities to attack.
Stroud’s no-touchdown performance against the Bengals does not tell the entire story. His 353 passing yards showed that Houston can move the football through the air. The bigger issue is finishing drives. The Texans need to turn those yards into touchdowns rather than settling for field goals.
” Indianapolis was hardly expected to dominate on defense, but its hopes for improvement were largely built on getting dominant play from the secondary…The Colts rank last in the NFL in yards per play (7.2), yards per game (514.5) and points allowed per game (37.0) as well as 31st in defensive expected points added,” ESPN’s Stephen Holder said.
Against a Colts defense that has struggled against the run, Houston has a clear area to test from the opening drive.
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This story was originally published September 24, 2026 at 11:44 PM.